Sitz bath

ABSTRACT

A sitz bath is provided which can be used in a home bathtub by even feeble patients. The bath includes a chair member having a dish-shaped seat, and an inner wall extending downwardly from the seat. An outer wall spaced from the inner wall extends everywhere above the patient&#39;&#39;s abdomen to define a fluid reservoir. The outer wall rear supports mid-portions of the patient&#39;&#39;s back, while outer wall sides provide arm rest supports. An outer wall front lip supports portions of the patient&#39;&#39;s legs.

Pratt Sept. 2, 11975 [54] s B TH 3,711,872 1/1973 Jarosinski 4/7 3,812,543 5 1974 St' 4 [76] Inventor: Alexander M. Pratt, 439 E. 31st St., mson /6 Chicago, 111. 60616 Primary Exam1nerl-1enry K. Artis Flledi g- 19, 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmOlson, Trexler, Wolters,

App]. No.: 498,475

[52] US. Cl. 4/6; 4/185 R; 4/185 B [51] int. Cl. A47K 3/22; A47K 1 1/08 [58] Field of Search 4/6, 7, 185 R, 187, 185 B, 4/1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 222,868 12/1879 Church 4/6 593,527 11/1897 Kustner 4/7 2,947,994 8/1960 Saulson et a1 4/6 3,039,117 6/1962 Hoskins 4/6 3,377,630 4/1968 Robare 4/6 3,648,296 3/1972 Craft ct al.... 4/6

Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd.

57 STRACT A sitz bath is provided which can be used in a home bathtub by even feeble patients. The bath includes a chair member having a dish-shaped seat, and an inner wall extending downwardly from the seat. An outer wall spaced from the inner wall extends everywhere above the patients abdomen to define a fluid reservoir. The outer wall rear supports mid-portions of the patients back, while outer wall sides provide arm rest supports. An outer wall front lip supports portions of the patients legs.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG./

PATENIEU EP' 2197s 3. 902,200

sum 2 UF 2 FIG. 4 F165 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to sitz baths. and more particularly concerns an inexpensive. light weight. easy-to-use sitz bath construction which applies a semi-circulating fluid to a patients lower abdomen.

It is the principle object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive sitz bath which can be easily used by a wide variety of patients.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a sitz bath which can be quickly and easily placed in a home bathtub or like location by any user patient, and which can be quickly and easily dumped of fluid and removed from the bathtub after use.

Another object is to provide a sitz bath which can be used by a patient in the comfort and privacy of his own home bathroom.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sitz bath which discourages fluid spills and housekeeping accidents before, during and after use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sitz bath which is light in weight.

A further object is to provide a sitz bath wherein the temperature of the bath fluid can be easily and quickly controlled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sitz bath having the patient comfort of a chair while requiring less water or other fluid for operation than a normal bathtub.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a sitz bath which can be easily entered. used and exited by even crippled. frail or feeble patients.

Another object is to provide a sit7. bath which encourages the patient to assume a relaxed. semireclining position while using the bath.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sitz bath which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, yet which is of rugged. trouble-free construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. Throughout the description, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view showing the novel sitz bath as it appears when placed in a home bathtub or similar location for use:

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bathtub interior and the novel sitv. bath;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sitz bath as it appears when placed in the bathtub;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view ofthe novel sitz bath;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the novel sit bath. and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 66 in FIG. 3 and showing in further detail the construction of the novel sit? bath.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment. it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to this embodiment. ()n the contrary. it is intended to cover all alternatives. modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Turning first to FIG. I. there is shown a sit7. bath 10 comprising the present invention as it appears when placed for use within a home bathtub 11 upon an ordinary bathtub floor I2 or like support. In general. the novel sitz bath I0 can be considered to comprise a chair portion l5 and supportive pedestal member 16. In accordance with one aspect of the invention. the chair 15 can be formed of a convenient polyolefin or other plastic material; by using such material. the novel sitz bath can be easily and quickly formed at low cost in the desired and claimed shape.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the chair portion 15 includes a smooth. dish-shaped seat 20 adapted to support a patient's weight. By forming the chair in the illustrated smooth dish shape. patient discomfort is minimized and frequent sitz bath use is encouraged. Moreover. it is a feature of the invention that elimination of fluid inflow nozzles or outflow drains which are directly connected to the seat 20 itself maximizes patient comfort and encourages sitz bath use by even sensitive patients.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a fluid reservoir is provided in the novel sitz bath. To form this reservoir. a continuous inner wall 21 defines an edge 22 of the seat 20 and smoothly extends downwardly away from the seat edge 22, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 6. At the lower extremity of the illustrated wall 21, an irregular annular bottom portion 24 is provided. and it extends generally horizontally away from the inner wall 21. At a position spaced apart from the inner wall 21 is a continuous outer wall 25 which projects upwardly from the annular bottom 24, as may be envisioned from FIG. 6. Since this outer wall 25 extends everywhere above the lower portions of the patients abdomen when the patient sits on the seat 20, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a fluid reservoir 28 is provided which permits immersion of the patients lower abdomen. Further, a fluid subreservoir 29 of irregular annular shape is provided around and below the edge 22 of the chair seat 20. This fluid subreservoir 29 provides a supply of heated water or other medicinal fluid immediately adjacent those parts of the patient's anatomy which are to be treated by sitz bath use. Hot water located in the upper portions of the reservoir 28 is thus prevented from rapidly cooling; if other medicinal fluid is used in the bath, fluid dilution can be easily and quickly overcome by gentle fluid agitation.

The chair outer wall 25 rises smoothly and continuously above the reservoir 28 and seat 20 to define a chair rear 32, two chair sides 33 and 34 and a chair front 35. The chair outer wall rear portion rises or extends upwardly a sufficient distance and is curved to support the patients middle back region, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

From the rear portion, an outer wall top edge 37 slopes gradually downwardly to the two side portions 33 and 34. The outer wall material forming the side portions 33 and 34 extends upwardly from the general area of the reservoir 28 and is folded smoothly outwardly to define patient arm rest areas 38 and 39, and shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. As can be envisioned. these arm rests 38 and 39 are spaced apart from adjacent portions of the chair and from the patients anatomy to provide comfortable patient arm rest support.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention. the chair outer wall front portion 35 rises and turns smoothly outwardly away from the bath seat 20 and remaining portions of the chair 15 to provide a lip 40. This lip 40 is formed and oriented to provide support for portions of the patients legs, as particularly illustrated in FlG. 6. Moreover, the lip 40 is located at an elevation lower than the arm rests 38 and 39 and the chair back or rear 32 to provide an egress for fluid flushing away from the top of the reservoir 28.

As noted above, it is an important aspect of the invention that patients using the sitz bath are encouraged to assume a relaxed, semi-reclining position. To this end, the outer wall back chair rear 32, sides 33 and 34 and front 35 are angled to the bath chair seat 20 so as to encourage the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath. as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, the various sitz bath chair parts are formed so as to flow smoothly and continuously into one another, thereby making easy the manufacture, by molding or other manufacturing process, of the chair member. Sitz bath cleaning or other chair maintenance is also made easy.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the chair I is located at a height above the bathtub floor 12 which comfortably encourages the patient to assume a semi-reclining position and which provides relatively easy patient entrance into and exit from the sitz bath. To inexpensively accomplish this, the pedestal member 16 is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, this pedestal member l6 takes the form of an irregular annulus, which abuttively supports the chair by convenient attachment to the chair member annular bottom 24. When so constructed, the sitz bath continuous, smooth outer surface is maintained. The annular pedestal member 16 can be formed of wood or other convenient material, and is provided with a bottom 42 adapted to rest solidly upon the bathtub floor 12.

It is another feature of the invention that a fluid such as warm water can be quickly and easily introduced to the novel sitz bath in precisely controlled amounts at a precisely controlled temperature. To this end, a flexible hose 45 formed of any convenient material extends from the chair member to a remote fluid supply source such as a bathtub faucet 46, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2. By simply adjusting the familiar hot and cold water faucets, the sitz bath user can easily control both the volume of water being circulated through the sit7. bath, and the water temperature. It is contemplated that the hose 45 could also be connected to a remote fluid supply source to introduce other medicinal fluids to the chair if desired.

As illustrated particularly in FIG. 6, the flexible hose 45 is attached to the sitz bath by a fluid inlet 48. To direct the fresh fluid directly at a portion of the patients lower abdomen when the patient assumes the encouraged semi-reclining position, the inlet 48 is located below the outwardly turned lip portion 40 and above the chair annular bottom 24.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the chair can be rotatably dumped to decant or pour out the fluid from the reservoir 28 after chair use has been completed. Here, a handle member 50 is affixed to the chair l5 at a point adjacent the top edge 37 of the chair outer wall 32. In this position. the handle affords maximum leverage relative to the lower front extremity 51 of the bath l0, and provides relatively easy rotational dumping motion of the sitz bath 10. When so dumped, the fluid is quickly poured out ofthe reservoir 28. Thereafter. the sit]. bath 10 can be easily removed from the bathtub I] even by feeble patients. If desired. fluid exhaust means such as small holes or ports (not shown) can be formed in the chair outer wall rear 32 at an elevation above the seat 20 to encourage a continuous flow of fluid through the chair [5 and around the patients lower abdomen.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A sitz bath comprising a polyolefm chair, the chair including a smooth. dish-shaped seat adapted to support a patients weight, a continuous inner wall defining the edge of the seat and smoothly extending downwardly away from the seat edge, an irregular annular bottom defining the lower extremity of the inner wall, a continuous outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, projecting upwardly from the annular bottom to a level above the seat and defining a chair front, two sides and a rear, the outer wall extending everywhere above the lower portions of the patients abdomen when the patient sits on the seat to define a fluid reservoir which permits immersion of the patients lower abdomen and which provides a fluid subreservoir of irregular annular shape around and below the chair seat, the outer wall rear smoothly extending further upwardly to define support for at least the patients middle back re gion, the outer wall sides smoothly extending further upwardly to define patient arm rests at positions spaced apart from the patients abdomen, and the outer wall front turning smoothly outwardly away from the bath seat to provide a lip for supporting portions of the patients legs, the outer wall, rear sides and front being angled to the bath chair seat to encourage the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath.

2. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including flexible hose means adapted for connection to a remote fluid supply source, and fluid inlet means disposed in the chair front outer wall below the front outer wall outwardly turned lip portions and above the chair annular bottom, the inlet means being oriented to direct a flow of fresh fluid directly at a portion of the patients lower abdomen when the patient assumes said semi-reclining position when using the bath.

3. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including a pedestal member adapted to rest on the floor of a bathtub, and to supportively locate the chair seat at a height above the bathtub floor which comfortably encourages the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath and which provides relatively easy patient entrance into and exit from the sitz bath.

4. A sit7. bath according to claim 3 wherein said pedestal member is a continuous irregular annulus formed to abuttively support said chair irregular annular bottom.

5. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including handle means affixed to the chair adjacent the top extremity of the chair outer wall rear at a position to afford maximum leverage relative to the lower front extremity of the bath to provide relatively easy rotational decantal dumping of fluid from the chair and removal of the sit7. bath from the bathtub.

6. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including fluid exhaust means formed in the chair rear outer wall at an elevation above the seat to encourage a continuous flow of fluid through the chair and around the patients lower abdomen.

7. A sityv bath comprising a polyolefm chair, the chair including a seat adapted to support a patients weight,

an inner wall defining the edge of the seat and extending downwardly away from the seat edge to an irregular annular bottom. an outer wall projecting upwardly from the annular bottom above the seat and defining a chair front. two sides and a rear. the outer wall extending everywhere above the lower portions of the patients abdomen when the patient sits on the chair seat to provide a fluid reservior which permits immersion of the patients lower abdomen and which provides a fluid subreservoir below the bath seat the outer wall rear smoothly extending further upwardly to define support for at least the patients middle back region, the outer wall sides smoothly extending further upwardly and outwardly to define patient arm rests and the outer wall front turning smoothly outwardly away from the bath seat at a position lower than the chair arm rests to provide a lip for supporting portions of the patients legs and to provide a fluid egress lip. the outer wall rear, sides and front being angled to the bath chair seat to encourage the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath.

8. A sitz bath according to claim 7 including flexible hose means adapted for connection to a remote fluid supply source. and fluid inlet means disposed on the chair front outer wall below the front wall outwardly turned portions and above the chair bottom, the inlet means being oriented to direct a flow of fresh fluid directly at a portion of the patient's lower abdomen when the patient assumes said semi-reclining position when using the bath.

9. A sitz bath according to claim 7 including a pedestal member adapted to rest on the floor of a bathtub, and to supportively locate the chair seat at a height above the bathtub floor which comfortably encourages the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath and which provides relatively easy patient entrance into and exit from the sitz bath. 

1. A STIZ BATH COMPRISING A POLYOLEFIN CHAIR, THE CHAIR INCLUDING A SMOOTH, DISH-SHAPED SEAT ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A PATIENT''S WEIGHT, A CONTINUOUS INNER WALL DEFINING THE EDGE OF THE SEAT AND SMOOTHLY EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AWAY FROM THE SEAT EDGE, AN IRREGULAR ANNULAR BOTTOM DEFINING THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF THE INNER WALL, A CONTINUOUS OUTER WALL SPACED APART FROM THE INNER WALL, PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE ANNULAR BOTTOM TO A LEVEL ABOVE THE SEAT AND DEFINING A CHAIR FRONT, TWO SIDES AND A REAR, THE OUTER WALL EXTENDING EVERYWHERE ABOVE THE LOWER PORTIONS OF THE PATIENT''S ABDOMEN WHEN THE PATIENT SITS ON THE SEAT TO DEFINE A FLUID RESERVOIR WHICH PERMITS IMMERSION OF THE PATIENT''S LOWER ABDOMEN AND WHICH PROVIDES A FLUID SUBRESERVOIR OF IRREGULAR ANNULAR SHAPE AROUND AND BELOW THE CHAIR SEAT, THE OUTER WALL REAR SMOOTHLY EXTENDING FURTHER UPWARDLY TO DEFINE SUPPORT FOR AT LEAST THE PATIENT''S MIDDLE BACK REGION, THE OUTER WALL SIDES SMOOTHLY EXTENDING FURTHER UPWARDLY TO DEFINE PATIENT ARM RESTS AT POSITIONS SPACED APART FROM THE PATIENT''S ABDOMEN, AND THE OUTER WALL FRONT TURNING SMOOTHLY OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE BATH SEAT TO PROVIDE A LIP FOR SUPPORTING PORTIONS OF THE PATIENT''S LEGS, THE OUTER WALL, REAR SIDES AND FRONT BEING ANGLED TO THE BATH CHAIR SEAT TO ENCOURAGE THE PATIENT TO ASSUME A SEMI-RECLINING POSITION WHEN USING THE BATH.
 2. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including flexible hose means adapted for connection to a remote fluid supply source, and fluid inlet means disposed in the chair front outer wall below the front outer wall outwardly turned lip portions and above the chair annular bottom, the inlet means being oriented to direct a flow of fresh fluid directly at a portion of the patient''s lower abdomen when the patient assumes said semi-reclining position when using the bath.
 3. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including a pedestal member adapted to rest on the floor of a bathtub, and to supportively locate the chair seat at a height above the bathtub floor which comfortably encourages the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath and which provides relatively easy patient entrance into and exit from the sitz bath.
 4. A sitz bath according to claim 3 wherein said pedestal member is a continuous irregular annulus formed to abuttively support said chair irregular annular bottom.
 5. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including handle means affixed to the chair adjacent the top extremity of the chair outer wall rear at a position to afford maximum leverage relative to the lower front extremity of the bath to provide relatively easy rotational decantal dumping of fluid from the chair and removal of the sitz bath from the bathtub.
 6. A sitz bath according to claim 1 including fluid exhaust means formed in the chair rear outer wall at an elevation above the seat to encourage a continuous flow of fluid through the chair and around the patient''s lower abdomen.
 7. A sitz bath comprising a polyolefin chair, the chair including a seat adapted to support a patient''s weight, an inner wall defining the edge of the seat and extending downwardly away from the seat edge to an irregular annular bottom, an outer wall projecting upwardly from the annular bottom above the seat and defining a chair front, two sides and a rear, the outer wall extending everywhere above the lower portions of the patient''s abdomen when the patient sits on the chair seat to provide a fluid reservior which permits immersion of the patient''s lower abdomen and which provides a fluid subreservoir below the bath seat the outer wall rear smoothly extending further upwardly to define support for at least the patient''s middle back region, the outer wall sides smoothly extending further upwardly and outwardly to define patient arm rests and the outer wall front turning smoothly outwardly away from the bath seat at a position lower than the chair arm rests to provide a lip for supporting portions of the patient''s legs and to provide a fluid egress lip, the outer wall rear, sides and front being angled to the bath chair seat to encourage the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath.
 8. A sitz bath according to claim 7 including flexible hose means adapted for connection to a remote fluid supply source, and fluid inlet means disposed on the chair front outer wall below The front wall outwardly turned portions and above the chair bottom, the inlet means being oriented to direct a flow of fresh fluid directly at a portion of the patient''s lower abdomen when the patient assumes said semi-reclining position when using the bath.
 9. A sitz bath according to claim 7 including a pedestal member adapted to rest on the floor of a bathtub, and to supportively locate the chair seat at a height above the bathtub floor which comfortably encourages the patient to assume a semi-reclining position when using the bath and which provides relatively easy patient entrance into and exit from the sitz bath. 